Exercising and amusement device



March 12, 1946. M. NUsBAuM 2,395,339

EXERCISING' AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Wu March 12, 1946. M. NUSBAUM EXERCISING AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/rm M r pg; Mama Patented Mar. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to toys and more particularly to an amusement and exercising de- Vice which will serve as a constructive plaything for a small child and. which will be instrumental in strengthening and building up his body muscles. For these purposes the device of the invention is preferably constructed to the outline or general shape of an animal, for example a horse, and the parts thereof are pivotally interconnected in such manner that the child can by manipulating one part of the assembly, the head for example, effect movement in another part of the assembly as, for example, the trunk or body portion.

The primary object of the invention is theprovision of an improved and substantially simplified construction for a manipulative toy of the general kind outlined above. Morespecifically, the primary object of the invention is the simplification of the parts and the arrangement of the parts in a toy of this character whereby the same is more rugged in use, more economical to produce, while yet retaining pleasing appearance.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a manipulative toy of the general character outlined above in which the constituent parts thereof are so fashioned that the assembly of the parts into the completed toy is very materially simplified. Further, the design of the constituent parts and the arrangement of the parts of the completed assembly is such that a minimum of fastening elements is required and certain of the parts themselves are so shaped that surfaces of some of them may coact with surfaces of others of them to limit the extent of relative movement between the parts whereby the assembly is safe for use in the hands of a small child.

Yet anothe object of the invention is the provision in a manipulative toy of the general character outlined of an improved and simplified interconnection between the part which is adapted to be operated directly by the child and the part whose movement result from movement of the first named part whereby theassembly may be operated'or manipulated for periods of time without tiring the child.

The above and other specific objectsand advantages of the invention will ,become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings wherein there is specifically disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Figure 6 is a partial plan view of the device of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a partial transverse sectional view taken along the line VIIVII of Figure 5.

The devices of the invention are preferably constructed of wood and for the p p l p t thereof I have obtained satisfactory results with the use of plywood having a thickness of approximately three-fourths of an inch. As stated above I preferably construct the toys to the general outline or shape of a horse or other creature and, as shown in Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings, I providea pair of pieces I0 which are cut to simulate in outline, the trunk or body and rear leg portions of this animal. Along the upperedges of the pieces I0 I provide notches or recesses to snugly receive a transversely extending member I l which provides a seat for the child-while simulating a saddle. It should be observed thatthe fastenings between the seat member II and the pieces In are such that the two pieces In are maintained in spaced parallel relation. This relation is further insured by a space block l2 which is positioned between the lower end of the leg portions of the piece l2 and by a second space block l3 which is secured between the lower portions of the trunkor body portions of the principal members It).

A single member l4 cut to the generaluoutline of the shoulders, neck and head is provided for pivotal connection with the rigid assembly made up of the parts Ill, ll, l2 and IS, a portion of the member l4 being received within the space between the forward portions of the members in. To provide the pivotal connection a dowel pin [5 i extended through the member l4 and has its ends received in bores provided in the inner surfaces of themembers Hi. It should'be observed that these bores do not extend entirely through the members ill so that uponassembly of the device the dowel pin is automatically locked in axial positionand is invisible from outside the Figure 1 is a side elevation of an exercising assembly. This arrangementmakesfor ruggedness and simplicity and furthers the animal simulation of the toy as will be understood.

The forelegs of the animal simulated toy are formed by the two members It which are cut in outline to simulate such legs. Members I6 are spaced apart to lie in planes generally coincident with the planes of the members II] by a space block I! which is positioned between the lower portions of these members. The upper ends of members It are pivotally connected to the member I4 by the dowel pin I8 which, as in the case of the dowel pin I5, extends through member I4 and into bores formed in the inner surfaces of the members It. Again, these bores terminate short of the outer surfaces of the member I6 so that the dowel pin I8 is automatically held in position and is invisible from outside the toy upon the assembly of the parts thereof.

The assembly thus far described is mounted on the base consisting of the longitudinally spaced but transversely extending members I9 through the center portions of which are rigidly connected the ends of a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal members 20. As shown in Figure 2, the interval between the members 24 is equal to the combined thickness of the two members ID (or I6) and the space block I2 (or IT) positioned therebetween. Pivotal connections between the fore and hind leg assemblies and the base members 20 are provided by dowel pins 2| and 22, respectively, which extend through the assemblies and into recesses or bores formed in the inner surfaces of the members 20. This construction allows the rigid sub-assembly made up of the parts In through I3 to pivot on the base about the axis of the pin 22 while the foreleg assembly made up of parts I 6 and I1 can pivot on the base about the axis of pin 2|.

I provide suitable handle means attached to the head portion of the member I4 which may consist of a bar or rod 23 projecting through to either side of the member I4. Now it should be observed that a child seated on member II and having his hands on the bar 23 can by pulling back and forth on the bar effect movement of the body portion of the members I and consequently the seat II in an up and down direction. Since the distance between the axis of the pivot pin I and I8 is but a fraction of the distance between the pins 23 and I8 such up and down movement of the seat can be accomplished with the application of but small forces to the bar 23 which forces can be readily exerted by a small child. The ease of operation is further made possible by the inherent arrangement which places a substantial portion of the weight of the child on the pin 22 which has a fixed axis. To limit the extent of relative movement of the parts thereby rendering the toy safe in the hands of the small child I provide on the edges of the members I6 surfaces 24 which are adapted to abut against surfaces 25 formed on the forward edges of the members II]. With the parts in intermediate positions, as shown in Figure 1 the surfaces 24 and 25 are spaced slightly and lie in general planes substantially normal to the plane passing through the axis of pins I5 and I8. As the axis of pin I5 rotates about the axis of pin I8 in either an upward or a downward direction the surfaces 24 and 25 are eventually brought together thus limiting the relative movement in either direction between the parts of the assembly.

To complete the simulation of the animal in the toy of Figures 1 through 4. I pivotally mount a tail simulating member 26 between the recesses I II and by means of a cord, wire, or other suitable connecting means 21 I connect the lower edge of the member I4 to a portion of the member 26 above its pivotal mounting pin 28 so that upon rocking movement of the member I4 about the pin I8 the member 26 will be caused to bob up and down. It should be observed that the connecting means 21 is housed within the space between the two principal body members II Referring to the modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '7, the pivotally interconnected parts of the assembly are duplicated in transversely spaced relation to provide an assembly in which a child can sit and rock himself to and fro, such devices being currently recognized in the trade as shoo-flys. In this illustrated embodiment of the invention the side elevational contour of the device simulates a duck and as such the assembly is provided with a pair of spaced parallel tail simulating members 32 which are pivotally connected at 33 to a base assembly now to be described. Two longitudinally spaced but transversely extending members 3| and I32 are provided to rest on the floor and to support the complete assembly. Spanning the members 3! and I32 on either side of the assembly is a pair of longitudinally extending spaced parallel stringers llflbetween which is pivotally connected the lower side members of the assembly.

Spanning the tail simulating members 32 and rigidly connected thereto is a seat structure 34. Positioned forwardly of the members 32 and immediately outside of these members is a pair of breast simulating plates 35 which are pivotally connected between the stringers 3!! on either side of the assembly by means of the pivot pins 35. I also provide a pair of neck and head simulating members 31, one on either side of the assembly, which are pivotally connected to the members 35 by means of the pivot pins 33 and which are also pivotally'connected to the members 32 by means of the pivot pins 45. Cleats 4I are fastened to the inner surfaces of the members 31 to retain a tray. Extending between the members 3! are a plurality of rungs 39 and 40 the ends of which are received in recesses provided in the members 31 and are rigidly secured to such members. This provides a rigid assembly extending from side to side of the apparatus to lend stability to the same.

In using the device of Figures 5, 6, and '7 the child is seated on a structure 34 and he can then by grasping either the rung 39 or one of the rungs 40 cause the head assembly to rock back and forth on the pivots 38. This action, of course,

moves the pivot pins 45 up and down and effects a rocking movement of the seat and members 32 about the pivotal axes provided by the pins 33. In order that the various parts are properly interfitted I provide suitable spacing blocks 42, 43 and 44 as required and as illustrated in the drawings. I The above specifically described embodiments of the invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What I claim is: l

1. In a toy of the class described the combination of a rigid base having a pair of spaced parallel supporting members, a body comprised of a pair of spaced parallel members having integral downwardly extending legs pivotally mounted at their lower ends between said supporting members, a seat mounted on said body members forwardly of said legs, a head member having a portion received between portions of said body members and pivotally connected thereto, hand grip means on said head member for engagement by the hands of a child supported on said seat and a pair of spaced parallel fore leg members pivotally mounted at their lower ends between said supporting members and pivotally connected at their upper ends to said head member at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection between said head member and said body.

2. In a toy of the class described the combination of a rigid base, a body comprised of a pair of spaced parallel members each having an integral leg extending downwardly from one end thereof, means pivotally mounting the lower ends of said legs on said base for pivotal movement about an axis generally plane of said body, a seat mounted on said body members forwardly of said legs, a head member having a portion received tions of said body members and pivotally connected thereto, hand grip means on said head member for engagement by the hands of a child supported on said seat, and a pair of spaced parallel foreleg members pivotally connected at their upper ends to said head member at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection between said head member and said body, and means pivotally mounting the lower ends of said foreleg members on said base for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel with said first mentioned axis.

3. In a toy of the class described the combination of a rigid base, an upstanding body member having a principal portion simulating the trunk of a horse and an integral downwardly extending portion simulating the hind legs of a horse, means pivotally mounting the lower end of said down: wardly extending portion on said base, a head member pivotally connected to the forepart of said body, means simulating the forelegs of a horse and pivotally connected to said head memher at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection between said head member and body, means pivotally mounting the lower end of said last mentioned means on said base, the pivotal axes of all said pivotal connections being substantially parallel with each other, a seat on said body substantially intermediate the ends thereof, and hand grip means on said head member for engagement by the hands of a child supported on said seat.

4. A device according to claim 2 further char acterized in that said pivotal connection between said head member and body members comprises a dowel pin extending through an aperture in said head member, aligned with bores in the inner surfaces of said body members, the ends of said dowel pin being received in said bores, said bores terminating short of the outer surfaces of said body members.

5. In a toy of the class described the combination of a pair of spaced parallel body members simulating in outline a part of an animal, a

normal to the principal between forward porsecond member having a portion received between portions of said body members and simulating in outline another portion of said animal, and a pivotal connection between said body members and said second member, said pivotal connection comprising a dowel pin extending through an aperture in said second member and having its ends received in bores formed in the inner surfaces of said body members, said bores terminating short of the outer surfaces of said body members.

6. A device according to claim 2 further characterized in that the forward edges of said body members are provided with surfaces adapted to abut coacting surfaces formed on the rear edges of said foreleg members to limit the pivotal movement of said head member in either direction.

7. In a toy of the class described the combination of a body member simulating the trunk and rear legs of a horse, a base, means pivotally connecting the lower end portion of said body member to said base, a recess in the forward portion of said body member, a member simulating the forelegs of said horse and having a recess in its upper portion, means pivotally connecting the lower end portion of said last mentioned member to said base, a head member having portions received in said recesses and having pivotal connections with said body member and with said second mentioned member at horizontally spaced points, a seat on said body member, and hand grip means secured to said head member above said body member.

8. A device according to claim 7 further characterized in that said body member is provided with a recess in its aft portion, a tail simulating member having a portion received in said recess and pivotally connected therein to said body member, and a mechanical connection housed within said body member and connected at one end to the lower portion of said head member in said first mentioned recess and its other end connected to the upper portion of said tail simulating member in said second mentioned recess.

9. In a toy of the class described the combination of a base, a pair of spaced parallel body members pivotally connected at their lower ends to said base, a second pair of members pivotally connected to said base forwardly of said bodt members, a head member positioned between and pivotally connected to the forward portions of said body member and to the upper portions of said second mentioned members whereby upon rocking movement of said head member said body members will rock about said first mentioned pivotal connection, a seat supported by said body members, and hand grip means on said head member adapted to be engaged by the hand of a child supported on said seat whereby said head member may be rocked to and fro.

10. A device according to claim 9 further characterized in that said body members and second mentioned members are spaced substantially, said seat being positioned between and rigidly attached to the inner surfaces of each of said body members.

MORTIMER NUSBAUM. 

